Flash light



Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLASH LIGHT Application October 18, 1932, Serial No. 638,283

4 Claims.

This invention relates to portable electric lamps of the type known as flashlights and has for an object a ashlight equipped with an improved switch and focusing means readily operable while 5 f the flashlight is held in the same manner as for operating the switch.

In a flashlight embodying the invention, the switch is operated by a slide movable longitudinally of the casing. Either forward or rearward l /movement of the slide from an intermediate position closes the switch while with the slide in intermediate position, the switch is open. Means are provided to retain the switch in closed position after forward movement of the slide so that the bulb will remain lighted after forward pressure on the slide has been released. On rearward movement of the slide, the slide is subjected to tension tending to return it to the intermediate position so that the bulb remains lighted only 20 while rearward pressure is exerted on the slide. Upon release of rearward presure, the slide moves forward under the tension exerted on it to the intermediate or switch open position. A second slide is mounted near the first slide and is con- 26 nected to the bulb socket for moving the same relative to the reflector for focusing purposes. The two slides are so arranged that either may be readily operated by the thumb of the hand in which the casing is held.

36 Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the follow ing specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section 35 through a flashlight embodying thel invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 with the battery omitted;

Fig. 3 is a bottom View of the switch box;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3, and

40 Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the base cap.

The flashlight comprises a tubular casing I0 which may be composed of metal, fibre or other suitable material and within which is arranged a suitable battery l I. 'I'he tubular casing is provid- 45 ed at one end with .an'annular shoulder I2 on which rests an insulating disk I3 which is held against the shoulder by a snap ring I4 seated in a groove provided in the casing. A metal strip i6 is slidably supported on the inner wall of the casing I0 and is insulated from the casing by means of a fibre' strip I1. A switch housing I8 is attached to the outer wall of the casing and is provided with a slide I9 having lugs 20, which extend through slots in the switch housing and casing I0 55 and which turn over the strip I1 to hold the latter with the central terminal of the battery I I.

to the wall of the casing, the strip I6 being provided with an aperture within which the ends of the lugs are arranged. The metal strip I6 is attached to the fibre strip I1 by rivets I5 and as the fibre strip Il is connected to the slide I9 by the 5 lugs 20, movement of the slide I9 effects movement of the metal strip I6.

The upper end Ilia of the strip I6 is bent inwardly at right angles to the main portion of the strip and supports a threaded socket 2l in which 10 is screwed the base of a bulb 22. The bulb 22 extends through an aperture provided in the base of the reflector Illa which is supported from the casing I0 in the well-known manner. A bre plate 23 is attached to the portion Ita and underl5 lies the base of the socket 2 I. A contact member 24 extends along the under face of the plate 23 and has its ends 24a upturned. A tongue 25 is struck out of the center portion of the contact member 24 and projects upwardly through the 20 aperture in the plate 23 into engagement with the central terminal of the bulb 22. A second contact member 26 is supported by the fibre disk I3 and has its central portion depending downwardly therefrom. This contact member has longitu- 25 dinal sections 26a which are engaged by the upturned ends 24a of the contact member 24 and is provided with an offset portion 2l for engagement The disk I3 is provided with slots 28 through which 30 the upturned ends of the contact member 24 may extend when the slide is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2. The contact member 26 is provided with offsets 29 which engage the fibre plate 23 to limit the movement of the bulb 35 assembly toward the bottom section of the contact member 26.

A flexible contact member 30 is connected atone end to the switch housing by a rivet 3 I. The free end of the contact member 3D is offset from 40 the fixed end as at 32 and is provided with a. downturned flange 33. The contact member is adapted to be depressed to bring the flange 33 into contact with the slide I6 to close the circuit through the bulb 22. For this purpose, the casing IIJ and libre strip I1 are provided with registering slots in alinement with the liange 33. A slide 34 is mounted on the switch housing and is provided with lugs 35 which extend through slots in the switch housing and are arranged in notches in a. plate 36, the ends of the lugs being turned over the plate to fix the slide to the plate. The plate 36 carries a cam member 31 having a front and back cam surface, the front cam surface terminating in a straight line dwell. The cam member 31 pro- 55 jects through a slot in the contact member 32 with one cam surface engaging each end of the slot.

Upward movement of the slide 34 from the position shown in Fig. 4 causes the front cam surface to ride over the edge of the slot to depress the offset end of the contact member 32, thereby bringing the flange 33 into engagement with the slide I6. The dwell of the front cam surface rests on the contact member and holds the latter in engagement with the strip IS and no pressure is exerted on the slide tending to return it to the position shown in Fig. 4.

Downward movement of the slide 34 from the position shown in Fig. 4 causes the rear cam surface to ride over the rear end of the slot and depress the contact member to engage the flange 33 with the strip I6. 'Ihe downward movement of the slide 34 is limited so that the cam surface remains always in engagement with the rear end of the slot and the tension of the contact member 32 exerts pressure on the cam member tending to return it and the slide to the position shown in Fig. 4.

With the switch above described, forward movement of the slide 34 closes the switch and the contact member 32 will be held in depressed position after pressure is released from the slide 34 as the arrangement of the dwell on the contact member obviates pressure on the slide tending to return it to circuit open position. Rearward movement of the slide 34 closes the switch, but there is constant force applied to the slide tending to return it to circuit open position and as soon as rearward pressure on the slide is released, it returns to the open position shown in Fig. 4.

Focusing is effected by moving the bulb 22 relative to the reflector Ia through the medium of the slide I9 and strip I6. The slide i9 may easily be actuated by the thumb of the hand in which the casing is held. After the bulb has been adjusted to obtain the proper focus, it will remain in such position due to friction between the strip l1 and casing I0.

The casing l0 is provided with a base cap 3B which screws onto the end of the casing. In the end of the base cap, there is provided a recess or socket 39 having straight walls. This recess comprises a substantially semi-circular portion from the base of which extends a channel. In the channel there is provided a stud 40 which is rotatably connected to the base cap by a rivet 4|. A wire loop 42 of proper configuration to t snugly in the semi-circular portion of the recess 39 is provided with parallel legs having inturned ends projecting into the stud 40, the loop being thereby pivotally connected to the stud. The loop 42 is provided with an offset central portion which projects through a cut-out leading from the recess 39 by means of which the loop may easily be lifted from the position shown in` Fig. 5 to the position shown 1n Fig. 1. By means of this loop, the flashlight may be suspended from any suitable support and by means of the rotatable connection between the stud 40 and the base cap, the loop may be rotated about the axis of the stud 43, after having been moved to the position shown in Fig. l. The loop 42 is retained in the recess 39 solely by reason of the snug fit of the loop in the recess.

It is of course understood that modifications may be made in the flashlight above described.

without in any Way departing from the spirit of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a flashlight, a flexible contact member, a 5

slide having opposed cam surfaces adapted to engage said contact member to iiex the same into circuit-closing position upon movement of said slide in either of two directions, one of said cam surfaces having a dwell for engagement with the contact member upon movement of the slide in one direction to hold the same in flexed position and the other cam surface at all times extending beyond the contact member to cooperate therewith to allow return of the contact member to its original position upon release of the slide after movement in the other direction.

2. In a flashlight, a flexible contact member having a slot, a slide having a projection extending through said slot, said projection having two opposed cam surfaces adapted to engage said contact member to flex the same into circuit-closing position upon movement of the slide in either of two directions, one of said cam surfaces having a dwell for engagement with the contact member to hold the same in flexed position and the other cam surface at all times extending through said slot to cooperate with the contact member to allow return thereof to its original position upon release of the slide after movement in the other direction.

3. In a flashlight, a casing, a housing mounted thereon, a contact member with'm said housing attached at one end to the inner wall thereof and having a slot adjacent the other end, a slide mounted on the outer wall of said housing and having a projection extending through said slot, said projection having two opposed cam surfaces adapted to engage said contact member to flex the same into circuit-closing position upon move- 40 ment of the slide in either of two directions, one of said cam surfaces having a dwell for engagement with the contact member to hold the same in flexed position and the other cam surface at all times extending' through said slot to cooperate 45 with the contact member .to allow return thereof to its original position upon release of the slide after movement in the other direction.

4. In a flashlight, a casing, a housing mounted thereon, a contact member within said housing attached at one end to the inner wall thereof and having a slot adjacent the other end, said contact member having its free end offset from said fixed end, a slide mounted on the outer wall of said housing, a plate within said housing overlying the free end of said contact member and being connected to said slide, a projection extending from said plate through said slot, said projection having two opposed cam surfaces adapted to engage said contact member to flex the same into circuit- G0 closing position upon movement of the slide in either of two directions, one of said cam surfaces having a dwell for engagement with the contact member to hold the same in flexed position and the other cam surface at all times extending through said slot to cooperate with the contact member to allow return thereof to its original position upon release of the slide after movement in the other direction. 7

ANTHONY J. DESIMONE. 

